Baa Baa Black Sheep on DVD
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****
CLICK TO BUY Baa Baa
Black Sheep
Volume 1, Season 1
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9/21/1976 - 9/1/1978
NBC 60 minutes
Created by:
Stephen J Cannell
Universal Television
Technical Advisor:
Lt.
Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
Robert Conrad as Maj. Greg 'Pappy'
Boyington
James Whitmore Jr. as Capt. James Gutterman
Dana Elcar as
Col. Thomas Lard
Simon Oakland as Gen. Thomas Moore
Dirk Blocker as Lt.
Jerry Bragg
Robert Ginty as Lt. T.J. Wiley
John Larroquette as Lt. Bob
Anderson
Jeff MacKay as Lt. Don French
W.K. Stratton as Lt. Larry Casey
Larry Manetti as Lt. Bob Boyle
Jeb Stuart Adams as Lt. Jeb Pruitt
Red West as Mechanic Sgt. Andy Micklin
Joey Aresco as Sgt. John David
'Hutch' Hutchinson
Steven Richmond as Cpl. Stan Richards
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Baa Baa Black Sheep Volume 1, Season 1 DVD Review
Based
loosely on the story of World War II Marine flying ace Gregory "Pappy"
Boyington, Baa Baa Black Sheep was a short-lived series that nonetheless still
has a big following. Perhaps it is all those F4U Corsairs engaged in aerial
battle that stirs the patriot in us all.
Baa Baa Black Sheep follows
the exploits of the 214, a bunch of hard fighting, hard partying misfits who
were spared court martial by Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington played by Robert
Conrad. With a disdain for rules and a knack for getting into trouble, the 214
redeems all their bad behavior with their superior flying skills and ability to
"kill" Japanese Zero aircraft. When not in the air, the boys were at Vella La
Cava in the South Pacific, where they found plenty of trouble to engage
them.
In truth, the Black Sheep Squadron did exist, although they were
not the bad boys portrayed in the TV show. Their flying skills were not
exaggerated. Boyington was a pilot of uncommon ability and is credited with
more planes shot down than anyone else in World War II for which he received
the Medal of Honor.
The show was effectively cancelled after the first
season but NBC's Fall lineup was so bad that they brought it back for 13
episodes as the Black Sheep Squadron. Someboy must have been afraid the Baa Baa
part sounded like a kids show.
While showing its age a bit, the combat
footage is still exciting. Some of it was new for the show and some is stock
from the military. Watching how vulnerable pilots were in WWII, it is easy to
see why they are known as The Greatest Generation.
The DVD package
contain 2 double-sided discs each in their own case. 10 episodes including the
2 hour pilot. This is not the full first season, which is regretable. The
transfers are good, certainly a vast improvement over what the History Channel
ran a few years ago.
While there are few special features, they have
included some old NBC footage of actual interviews with the real Pappy
Boyington. I loved watching him with Robert Conrad and wished there had been
more on his life. Perhaps in a future DVD release.
Click to Buy
Volume 1, Season 1
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